Chapter 40B grants simplified permitting to developers of affordable housing in municipalities where fewer than 10 percent of the housing units are defined as "affordable." The law lets such developers build at a greater density than allowed under local zoning. Under 40B, affordable housing developers may circumvent subdivision rules and local wetlands bylaws, but not state wetlands rules.

Under 40B, a development must have 25 percent of its units set aside as "affordable" in order to qualify for expedited permitting and zoning relief.

Easthampton is vulnerable to Chapter 40B development proposals because its stock of affordable housing hovers just above the 6 percent mark, officials have said.

The goal is to add 38 units a year for five years. After that, another housing plan will be done.

Building 38 units of affordable housing per year would demonstrate to the state that the city is making a good-faith effort to increase its stock, said Allan. If the city meets its yearly goal, the Housing Production Plan would be "certified" by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development.

One advantage of having a certified plan is it grants the Zoning Board of Appeals greater legal standing to regulate or deny a 40B proposal, said Allan. Under 40B, developers apply for a "comprehensive permit" before the zoning board instead of seeking separate approvals from various boards and commissions.

The "38" figure is reached by taking 10 percent of the city's housing units and multiplying that number by .05, said Allan. She said the proposed growth rate in affordable housing is acceptable to state regulators.

There are now 454 units of affordable housing in Easthampton. Under current conditions, it will take 303 more affordable units to surpass the ten percent mark.

In order for a housing unit to count as "affordable," it must be subsidized by a federal or state program, be deed-restricted to remain affordable, and be marketed according to a set of fair housing regulations. To count toward a municipality's 10 percent quota, a unit must be affordable to households making up to 80 percent of the median household income for the metropolitan region.

In the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Easthampton, 80 percent of the median household income for a family of four equals $63,900, said Armington.

Easthampton has hardly been remiss in putting more affordable housing into the pipeline. Fifty units of affordable housing are under construction at the former Easthampton Dye Works building at 15 Cottage St. Thirty-eight units will soon be built on Parsons Street by the Valley Community Development Corporation. Habitat for Humanity plans six units in two locations.

Unfortunately, said Allan, those 94 units will not count toward the city's goal of producing 38 units next year, because they've already been permitted.

Allan said one impediment to producing affordable housing in the city is that small developers find state and local regulations daunting.

"I have people come to me, saying they want to build three or four affordable units," she said. "But when they're told about all the regulations, they decide it's beyond their capacity."

Easthampton Housing Partnership member Janna Tetrault suggested the city could find a way to provide technical assistance to such small builders.

"If we develop a system to work with local builders, we can provide them with an easier path, so it's not so scary," said Tetrault. She said Community Preservation Act monies might be used to pay for such a program.

Allan also said zoning for accessory apartments may be too restrictive. She said revisiting various aspects of the zoning code might help with the development of affordable housing one or two units at a time.

Allan said Easthampton's mission is to provide safe, high-quality housing options for people of all economic means.

The draft Housing Production Plan must be approved by the Planning Board and the City Council, then sent to the state for review. Mayor Karen Cadieux said it's possible the plan could gain approval by the end of the summer.